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New program helps teens become “Collegebound”
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High school senior DeAundre Gardner has heard a lot of teachers say, “College isn’t for everyone.” He wondered if they were talking about him.
Then he joined “Collegebound,” a new program at Operation Breakthrough. He met some college students and took some ACT practice tests. He spent time with the “Collegebound” coordinator, talking about his interests and researching schools. He visited a couple of campuses.
Now, DeAundre says, “I think I’m going to college. I want to go to college. I KNOW I’m going to college!”
“Collegebound” was born in a hurry last spring when a record 20 Operation Breakthrough teens graduated from high school. Twelve said they wanted to go to college, but only a handful had taken the ACT test, let alone applied for federal aid or scholarships. Their parents had trusted, as had the Center’s staff, that the high schools were guiding students through the application process.
“Sometimes, our kids are just written off,” says Sister Berta. “Here are these bright, motivated kids saying they want to go to college, and 10 weeks before classes start, no one has even helped them apply.”
Sisters Berta and Corita tapped the Center’s literacy coordinator, Ally Letsky, to intervene, and by September, all 12 students were enrolled in college and had received financial aid. One was an honor student who hadn’t been able to apply for financial aid because her parent would not release the required tax information. With the help of “Collegebound,” she won a full scholarship at a state university. Another student who had given up his dream of attending a four-year program and enrolled in community college ended up at the school of his choice after “Collegebound” helped his family meet with financial aid officers.
After getting the Class of 2007 off to school, “Collegebound” expanded to take in the Classes of 2008 and 2009, with vital support from the Hancock Family Foundation, which gave the program $14,427.
“We vowed that never again would we have kids graduating from high school who had never heard of the ACT,” Sister Berta says. “These kids deserve better.”
“Collegebound’s” juniors and seniors have been meeting with college mentors, taking a 12-hour ACT prep course, researching colleges and visiting campuses.
Senior Lorenzo Hawkins thought Kansas State University was for him – until Ally drove him to Manhattan.
“I figured out that I need a smaller school,” he says. He felt much more at home during a later visit to Northwest Missouri State University. Now, he’s applying for scholarships and telling his friends that the ACT exam isn’t as hard as they think.
“Collegebound,” Lorenzo says, “gave me confidence.”
Marita Johnson has a semester of college behind her, but she still relies on “Collegebound” for help navigating the system. Her parents didn’t go to college.
“My mother has been in prison since I was in sixth grade,” Marita says, “and my father isn’t really around. I’m solo on my mission.”
It was Ally who filled out her aid forms, took her to freshman orientation and helped her pick out her books.
“I’m committed to getting an education,” Marita says. “I just have to believe in myself and do it for me.” |
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